• To implement new & emerging technologies to support data-driven decisionmaking
• To collaborate with policymakers, academic insitutions and stakeholders to develop smart, socially just and healthy cities
• To serve as a resource for Bloustein masters programs

• Anonymized cell phone location data used to track visits to public spaces in NJ towns and counties

• Report by Dean Thakuriah covered movement patterns during height of lockdown

• During March shutdown, visits fell 80% compared to beginning of the month
• Northern and central counties had greatest decline
• People spent more time and travelled farther to stores, stocking up at the start of the pandemic
• Differences in food shopping apparent in areas with greater poverty
• Future report will examine how NJ reopened from May to present.

• Dashboard created by Bloustein MPI / MCRP dual degree student Haoyun Wang as part of internship with RUCI
• Tracks visits by ZIP code with comparisons to 2019 levels
• Identified top brands for visits during the pandemic

• Linking COVID-19 data with census, social media and transit data
• 11.5 million rows of data collected
• Data Use Agreement signed with NYC to obtain more granular case / death data
• Machine learning and modeling will be used to uncover trends in environmental factors impacting the spread of COVID.

• We currently work with MPI, MCRP and MPP students
• R, Python and Linux experience is highly desirable
• Future opportunities to get involved will be announced soon

Contact us: rucilab@ejb.rutgers.edu

rucilab.rutgers.edu